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Shell, Illinois Team to Halt Tobacco Sales to Minors

Company sides with several other retailers to fight underage sales.

HOUSTON -- Shell Oil Products and its parent, Motiva Enterprises, are taking proactive steps in Illinois to reduce cigarette sales to minors at 14,000 independent retail outlets in the state.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a statement that Shell also agreed to pay $100,000 to cover costs incurred by the states’ investigation and negotiation.

To date, this marks the 12th agreement Madigan’s office signed with national retailers, including CVS, 7-Eleven, Wal-Mart and Walgreen’s stores, and gas stations and convenience stores operating under the Conoco, Phillips 66 or 76, Exxon, Mobil, BP and Amoco brand names, according to the statement.

"Studies show that most adult smokers begin smoking before turning 18, and we know 47 percent of underage youth who reported buying cigarettes say they purchased them at gas station convenience stores," Madigan said in a statement. "By preventing a teen from smoking, we can protect the health of the next generation."

Madigan explained this agreement came as a result of an ongoing, multi-state enforcement effort. In total, the agreements cover more than 90,000 retail outlets across the nation. Launched in 2000, this enforcement effort by the attorneys general focuses on retailers around the country, according to the report.